Folk-leaning Texas Americana artist Stephanie Sammons writes songs because she must: Driven by a deep sense of calling and a genuine curiosity about the world around her, her songwriting blends natural imagery with rich, narrative reflection and stirring melodic lines. Think Emmylou Harris meets Bonnie Raitt—both effortless and profound at the same time—with a pinch of Jason Isbell’s narrative swagger. Influenced by a mix of idiosyncratic folk and country icons (Willie and Waylon, Tanya Tucker, Joni Mitchell) and contemporary folk and folk rock acts like the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Indigo Girls, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and David Gray, Sammons has developed a uniquely catchy style of down-to-earth Americana that’s both moody and fiercely intelligent. Now poised to release her first full-length album, Time and Evolution (due out May 4th), Sammons has played Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe and shared stages with some of her favorite artists and mentors, including Mary Gauthier, Jonatha Brooke, and Mary Bragg.
Sammons’ forthcoming full-length debut offers an elegant recounting of personal growth through melody and narrative. “Everything takes time, and everything changes. We either resist or embrace change. I’ve also experienced a lot of shame in my life, and that’s a recurring theme in this record.,” says Sammons. Produced by Mary Bragg at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studio B, the ten-song collection begins with a journey and ends with a reckoning—part coming of age, part teardown of harmful church doctrine, part beautiful homage to the ongoing rediscovery of faith, the songs explore shame, vulnerability, and the complexity of being queer in a conservative, Southern religious culture. Moments of melancholy are balanced by acquiescence, embracing reality in deft, searingly poetic language woven with rich emotional insight.
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout track “Living and Dying” (PRE-SAVE), which finds Sammons offering poignant commentary on a close friend’s journey through substance abuse and recovery. Backed by a warm soundtrack of pedal steel, simple strumming, and subtle yet emotionally resonant keys, Sammons uses her lyrics to put herself in the shoes of her friend and tell a story from this perspective. The result is a song that carries the kind of sentiment that connects with anyone who has ever struggled, whether with substances, emotions, or both. Gorgeous harmonies and an Americana backdrop make this the kind of song that feels like it could have come from the genre’s formative years in the late 80s and early 90s. It also provides further proof that Sammons is a songwriter to watch.
Stephanie Sammons describes the inspiration behind the song:
A close friend of mine has been struggling with alcohol and drug abuse for most of her adult life. She’s functional for a while and then gets too far out over her skis. Several times, she has miraculously pulled herself out of the death spiral without any help from friends, family, or a professional. It’s pretty unbelievable to me. She also moves around a lot. She’ll get settled in one town, land a job, make a few friends, find a boyfriend…and then, she uproots and leaves it all behind to start over again in another town. There was about a six-month period where she was working so hard to be sober, and became so depressed about not being able to live in that world of escape. She said the words to me, “I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to live like this”. Those words inspired the song ‘Living and Dying.’ I love that my fantastic producer Mary Bragg sang on this track with me as with her gorgeous voice and tender harmonies it perfectly with this song. It meant so much to me.
LISTEN:
